"Damning indictment" - Cllr says some border areas in Louth are left without running water for 8-10 hours

A Louth councillor has said some border towns in Louth are left without running water for between 8 to 10 hours as a result of "inadequate water infrastructure". 

Fine Gael councillor for Dundalk/Carlingford John Reilly said the issue is a damning indictment on Louth County Council. 

Cllr Reilly who lives close to the border told the January meeting of Louth County Council he also has no running water, and has had to install a water pump to access running water. 

He said areas such as Creggan, Sheelagh and along the Castleblayney Road are without adequate water supply. He added these areas currently get their water supply from Knockbridge.

The Fine Gael councillor said these areas are sometimes left without water for between eight to ten hours. 

"There's a pumping house that builds up pressure and there's no water that goes down into Sheelagh". 

"Our neighbours in the North of Ireland all have running water. The Hackballscross area is forgotten about. You come across into Faughart and Ravensdale and we don't have running water in 2026," he said.

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Cllr Reilly acknowledged that Uisce Éireann is responsible for water infrastructure in Ireland but said "surely as a council it's damning on us that we can't provide water to people on the border". 

He said the infrastructure had previously been in place when water supply came from Northern Ireland. 

"The infrastructure was previously there, the water can be brought in and we cut off the supply and put in an inadequate supply on our side," he said.

Louth County Council said in response that this is a matter for Uisce Éireann, but said it would raise the issue with the State's water provider when they next meet. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme